INVESTIGATION OF A MOVING BELT RADIATOR.
Abstract
This report covers the 24-month period of a continued research program on the feasibility of the moving belt radiator, a novel concept for the rejection of waste heat in space. The main concerns of the program are materials compatibility, thermal conduction between surfaces, antifriction bearing operation (at high temperature in a high vacuum), and the dynamic behavior of the belt system under simulated in-flight conditions. These areas were investigated in four phases of the program. Phase 1, Long-Duration Thermal and Flexural Tests, showed that higher contact conductances (6000 Btu/hr-sq ft-F) than required for a belt radiator system can be obtained with a molybdenum belt, molybdenum drum, and liquid tin interface. A 1,000,000 contact-cycle test demonstrated the durability and compatibility of this combination of materials. Phase 2, Small-Scale Model Moving Belt Experiments were used to measure contact conductances (up to 2240 Btu/hr-sq ft-F) of the molybdenum-tin-molybdenum combination. A 100-hour endurance test was performed and showed that there was no deterioration of the heat transfer. Phase 3, Bearing Tests have shown the feasibility of dry-film lubricated bearings at 800 F in a high vacuum. An increased curvature and diametral clearance gave the most satisfactory results with submicron-size particle MoS2 powder or a MoS2 + C compound as lubricant. Phase 4, Dynamic Simulation of In-Flight Operation was studied with the aid of scaled models. A 1/20-scale model was used to investigate engineering problems of a belt system. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0819193
Entities
People
- C. R. Dulgeroff
- J. A. Speeds
- J. Jortner
- J. P. Maddox
- W. K. Johnson